Dave Lombardo Claims He Only Made $67,000 From Slayer’s $4.4 Million Gross in 2011

Philm / ex-Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo recently took a trip to Belfast, Ireland, to host a sold-out drumming workshop and master class. The legendary percussionist spoke about his departure from Slayer during a Q&A session, and for the first time, the specific financial issues which led to the split were made public by Lombardo.

Shortly before Slayer were scheduled to invade Australia for the 2013 Soundwave festival tour, Lombardo was dismissed from his duties and replaced with Jon Dette (Testament / Anthrax). Soon after, Lombardo was gone for good, with former Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph returning to the band as a full-time member.

Lombardo’s revelation about Slayer’s financial woes was recorded by a fan attending the clinic, and Lombardo claims that even though Slayer made $4.4 million in 2011, the drummer only earned $67,000.

“I did my best to try to keep it together, but I couldn’t go on, man,” said Lombardo. “I had to step out, because you can’t be shackled like that; nobody can take advantage of another person like that anymore. I did it for too many years, and I held my breath, red flags kept going on; and my books, it’s like, ‘Really? I’m supposed to make more money? Why am I on the same salary? I’m making the exact same thing I’ve been making the past two years. And this is back in 2004. So I knew something was up. And I tried my best to work it out with the guys. I brought Tom [Araya] into the picture. I had Tom in a hotel room with me talking to my attorney, and my attorney was telling him everything their management company had been doing to them for the past 30 freakin’ years. And we had an accountant, a forensic accountant, ready to go in there and look at the stuff.”

“Tom got bought out,” Lombardo claims. “Management flipped him over a couple of hundred grand — who knows how much? — and Kerry [King], as well, to keep quiet and go against Lombardo. So they turned their backs on me. And on the last day, when I’m at rehearsal with them — and I saved it all the way until the end — I said, ‘Guys, we need a new business plan. You guys have been on the same business plan after 30 years. Now I’m an income participant. In other words, I’m a percentage holder.’ So if you’re a percentage holder, you have the right, and you’re contracted, as a percentage holder, you have the right to see where all the expenses are going. Because here you are getting paid off of net, and then out of $4.4 million, the band gets $400,000. Where’s the four million? And that’s just 2011. [The rest of the money went to] lawyers, accountant and the manager.”

Lombardo continues, “For the past 30 years, they were doing that to the guys. And they took my information – I’ll never forget the day – I just said, ‘Guys, look at this. This came from your accountant.’ And it showed all the money. It wasn’t showing where the money was going, it was just showing ‘gross,’ ‘expenses,’ ‘net.’ And out of that net, I made, on tour, in 2011, $67,000. Kerry and Tom, that was about $114,000 they made on tour. So if you did about 60 shows, divide that up between 60 shows… Anybody have a calculator? No, not 60, let’s say about 90 shows per year: 30 in the spring, 30 in the summer and 30 shows in the winter, in the fall. So you break that up per show… Really? It’s disgusting. I bust my ass up there playing drums. I mean, I am just sweating, I’m beat. And for the guy in the Hollywood Hills, for his facials, his manicures… No, I’m not gonna play for that. No. I did everything I could. All I can say, right now my schedule is open. I can do whatever I want whenever I want.” [via Blabbermouth]

Watch the full video of Lombardo’s explanation above. As for Philm, they’ve finished up their second full-length album and hope to unleash the record as soon as possible.

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